Excitement continued at the final sale of the “big-four” decoy and sporting auctions during Robert C. Eldred’s Sporting and Military Items auction on Wednesday afternoon, August 1. As had been often times witnessed at the sales throughout the previous week, the decorative carvings by Elmer Crowell took command as they crossed the auction block.

A collection of more than 50 Crowell decorative carvings that had been purchased directly from the carver during the 1920s attracted a great deal of attention, with the grouping bringing a cumulative price of more than $387,000.

Highlighting the group was the top lot of the collection, a life-sized semipalmated plover that sold to Crowell enthusiasts and Americana dealers Bob Wilkins and Suzanne Courcier for $51,750.

Other Crowell highlights included a flying green-winged teal that sold for $25,300, a life-sized least tern with turned head brought $28,750, and a pair of oversized miniature geese on a shell-form base realized $26,450. A complete review of the auction will appear in a future issue.

⁄SS